Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has said he is "grateful" after a terrifying mid air ordeal forced his jet to turn back and left him hoping he "would make it back safely". He took to Instagram to share details of the traumatic experience with fans saying it made him realise the things that are important in life. The WWE wrestler turned Hollywood action hero was en route to Houston, Texas, from his home in Hawaii when his jet suffered a hydraulics problem.

"Last night, we had some issues with the plane. About 35-40 minutes into the flight the pilot comes back to me. He gets down on one knee and he faces me, face-to-face, and it’s just me on the plane, me and the crew, and he says 'Mr Johnson I’m sorry to inform you that we cannot continue to fly over the ocean'. He said there are some issues we can work out while we’re in the air but there are some issues we’re not gonna take a chance, especially over the ocean," he said.

"When you are back there alone with just your drink and you are thinking about this, and you’ve got everything crossed hoping you make it back safely, you start to realise really quickly the s*** that is really important in life.

"Then you realise the s*** that doesn’t matter that you are thinking about and worrying about. I had one of those moments last night.

"Bottom line is: I’m grateful to be back on the ground. I’m grateful to be back home in Hawaii.

"I appreciate God, the universe… I took this as a sign from God and the universe. I wish though I was there in Houston," he concluded.

The Jumanji star was flying to Texas for the opening weekend of the United Football League, which he co-founded.

He issued an apology to the fans and teams for his absence in a tweet as he reiterated his gratitude following the safe landing of his £50million Gulfstream G650.

"Super bummed I can’t be in Texas but so grateful we were able to land the plane safely," he wrote on X.

"So sorry to our @TheUFL fans, players, coaches, staff and our teams at @FOXSports @espn I’m not there. Let’s have a great season 2 opening weekend, have fun, and ball out."